The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, is joining forces with various e-commerce entities to advance the Districts as Export Hubs initiative and foster e-commerce exports from the nation. This strategic move is geared towards empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and propelling e-commerce exports.
In an inaugural partnership, DGFT has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amazon India. This collaboration will entail concerted efforts to develop capacity-building activities, training, and workshops for MSMEs in districts designated by DGFT as part of the District as Exports Hub initiative outlined in the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
The initiative seeks to link local producers, particularly in remote and rural areas, with global supply chains. The collaboration’s primary objective is to facilitate exporters and MSMEs in selling their “Made in India” products globally, aligning with the focus on e-commerce in the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
E-commerce platforms in India, as part of this collaboration, will identify districts and undertake outreach and capacity-building activities in collaboration with DGFT-Regional Authorities. The initiatives aim to empower MSMEs, providing them with insights into tax advisory, digital product cataloguing, imaging, and other aspects crucial for e-commerce exports.
The initial MoU with Amazon India covers 20 districts for capacity-building sessions. DGFT is actively engaged in discussions with various e-commerce platforms, such as Flipkart/Walmart, eBay, Rivexa, Shopclues, Shiprocket, DHL Express, among others, to extend similar collaborations in other districts nationwide. This multifaceted approach aims to support new exporters and MSMEs, bringing India closer to the ambitious goal of achieving US$ 1 trillion in goods exports by 2030.
